None of the Band's previous work gave much of a clue about how they would sound when they released their first album in July 1968. As it was, Music from Big Pink came as a surprise. At first blush, the group seemed to affect the sound of a loose jam session, alternating emphasis on different instruments, while the lead and harmony vocals passed back and forth as if the singers were making up their blend on the spot. In retrospect, especially as the lyrics sank in, the arrangements seemed far more considered and crafted to support a group of songs that took family, faith, and rural life as their subjects and proceeded to imbue their values with uncertainty. Some songs took on the theme of declining institutions less clearly than others, but the points were made musically as much as lyrically. Tenor Richard Manuel's haunting, lonely voice gave the album much of its frightening aspect, while Rick Danko's and Levon Helm's rough-hewn styles reinforced the songs' rustic fervor. The dominant instrument was Garth Hudson's often icy and majestic organ, while Robbie Robertson's unusual guitar work further destabilized the sound. The result was an album that reflected the turmoil of the late '60s in a way that emphasized the tragedy inherent in the conflicts. Music from Big Pink came off as a shockingly divergent musical statement only a year after the ornate productions of Sgt. Pepper, and initially attracted attention because of the three songs Bob Dylan had either written or co-written. However, as soon as "The Weight" became a minor singles chart entry, the album and the group made their own impact, influencing a movement toward roots styles and country elements in rock. Over time, Music from Big Pink came to be regarded as a watershed work in the history of rock, one that introduced new tones and approaches to the constantly evolving genre. Allmusic.

Music from Big Pink is the debut studio album by legendary group The Band. It was released in 1968, and the title refers to "Big Pink", a house shared by Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson where some of the music for the album was composed. Al Kooper of Rolling Stone gave the album a rave review, and the album also gained attention due to the fact that Bob Dylan co-wrote three songs (as well as illustrating the cover art himself). In the years since its release, Music from Big Pink has been praised by many; Roger Waters has called it the second "most influential record in the history of rock and roll" after Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and that it "affected Pink Floyd deeply, deeply, deeply". The album was ranked #34 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Professor Louie & The Crowmatix spread good vibes. From country rock to ballads to New Orleans shuffles with three singers spreading the wealth. - Night Ridder Professor Louie & The Crowmatix have been creating fine music at The Rock 'n' Roll Barn for the past three decades, ever since they first served as backup musicians for The Band. Music from Hurley Mountain, their 12th CD, is inspired by the beautiful farmlands next to their recording studio in the Catskill Mountains. It's a spirited collection of 11 originals and three select tunes (including Jimmy Reed's You Got Me Dizzy), a musical short story that brings listeners along on a day spent by Hurley Mountain.

Stage Fright, the Band's third album, sounded on its surface like the group's first two releases, Music From Big Pink and The Band, employing the same dense arrangements, with their mixture of a deep bottom formed by drummer Levon Helm and bassist Rick Danko, penetrating guitar work by Robbie Robertson, and the varied keyboard work of pianist Richard Manuel and organist Garth Hudson, with Helm, Danko, and Manuel's vocals on top…

The Band's first album, Music from Big Pink, seemed to come out of nowhere, with its ramshackle musical blend and songs of rural tragedy. The Band, the group's second album, was a more deliberate and even more accomplished effort, partially because the players had become a more cohesive unit, and partially because guitarist Robbie Robertson had taken over the songwriting, writing or co-writing all 12 songs…

As a member of thrash metal's heralded "big four," Metallica helped to bring heavy metal from the underground into the mainstream, becoming one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time in the process. And while the band's output after the breakout success of the Black Album in 1991 has been less than stellar, one need only take a listen to Through the Never, the live album that accompanies the bands IMAX film of the same name, to remember the driving brilliance the band once delivered…